AboutCynthia Bedell Expertise I am the Commander of the Surface Communications and Support Systems, contract management office. I am currently an active duty Colonel.
Experience I have bachelors and masters degrees in Engineering. I also hold a patent for a new way to process composite materials into complex shapes.
Question Hi, my name is pete and i badly want to get in the Navy. see the world.experience the world. change the world. making a difference everyday is my motto. i have been dealing with a recruiter and we took all my records to MEPS but disqualified due to my VSD. i was born with hole heart. had surgery to fix it. i did all contact sports-football, baseball, wrestling and karate. all with no problems and i didnt take any medication. i am appealing and going next week to see a heart dr to verify i'm in good health and cholesterol and BP and sugar are all good. will this help me get the waiver so i can impact the world as a career? thanks! pete
Answer Dear Pete --
All you can do is request the medical waiver as you are doing. Any documentation you have will help your case, but in the end military medical doctors will have to decide whether your condition would be too risky for you or other Sailors in service. The Navy cannot afford to have you unexpectedly ill and put a mission or other Sailors in danger. Also, if the stress of military service would worsen your condition, they will not grant your waiver, as that would be unfair to you and your family to injure your health further.
I hope you get an opportunity to serve in the military. But, if you do not get your waiver, please write back so we can discuss Department of Defense civilian service opportunities, that might suit your needs despite your heart repairs.
